Sandy Warren

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image=Sandy Warren, RSPB headquarters and Nature Reaserve - geograph.org.uk - 1512279.jpg

|name=Sandy Warren

|aos=Bedfordshire

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TL198478}}

|area=16.4 hectares

|notifydate=1986

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000871%27 Magic Map]

}}

Sandy Warren is a {{convert|16.4|hectare|acre|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the town of Sandy in Bedfordshire. It is part of The Lodge, a nature reserve run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and named after the RSPB headquarters called The Lodge at the same site.{{cite web |title=Sandy Warren citation |url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000871.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072724/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000871.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |accessdate=23 September 2015 |series=Sites of Special Scientific Interest |publisher=Natural England}}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000871%27|title=Map of Sandy Warren|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 23 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/t/thelodge/work.aspx|title=The Lodge|publisher=Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|accessdate= 23 September 2015}}

The site is of lowland heath, which is rare in south east England. It is on the acidic soil of the Lower Greensand ridge. It also has areas of unimproved grassland and birch woodland. Dragonflies breed in artificial pools, and the site is also noted for many fungi and bird species. Additional habitats are damp areas and seasonal pools, which have some uncommon species such as distant sedge and carnation sedge. The RSPB is felling conifers to create additional areas of heath.

There is a network of footpaths from the RSPB headquarters off Potton Road.